The smell of warm syrupy pancakes filled the chapel under croft Saturday morning, as many came out in support of the Wind Ensemble during family homecoming weekend.
The pancake breakfast was a fundraiser, that the ensemble hosts every year to raise money for their musical mission/tour in Eastern Europe. A few hundred parents and students attended the fundraiser, helping the band raise almost $500 for their trip which is coming soon.
“People usually seem to enjoy themselves, I mean, who doesn't like cheap breakfast,” said Emma Karsten who plays the French horn in the ensemble.
The even cost $2 for students and children and 3$ for adults, to enjoy an endless amount of quality pancakes along with prerecorded soundtracks of the ensembles music.
“I thought the pancakes were the best we have made. We used a lot of smaller griddles, and that worked out much better. Everyone seemed to enjoy it,” said ensemble instructor Tiffany Engle.
The event was a way for parents to see what the band was like and for alumni to reconvene with old and new friends. The ensemble typically hosts the event on family weekend to allow more parents and alumni to visit all at once, enjoy breakfast, and then move along to the rest of the events planned for them.
“One couple I talked to were all the way from Colorado,” said Emma.
“We always have alumni that come because they know that there will always be a pancake breakfast during family weekend.”
Much of the event was catered o Alumni in hopes that they would show support for the new tours that they themselves once took part in. There was a slide show that featured pictures from past retreats and tours, as well as, many traditions that everyone in the ensemble could get involved in.
“A tradition is flipping pancakes from the griddle over the wall onto a plate,” said Emma.
“This year Lauren Bylsma, a flute player, spelled out Calvin Wind Ensemble in pancakes and even had a pancake treble clef that we put out onto the table.”
Formally known as the Calvin Band, the college Wind Ensemble is a concert band that performs throughout the academic year touring all over the Midwest. In December they will have their annual Christmas Pops Concert and they will be making a few appearances in the Fall Music Festival.
The ensemble host open auditions to all students in all class levels during their rehearsals Monday's, Thursday's, and Friday's from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
“We have a great community in the WE and we all have fun together. A lot of our members don't enjoy getting up very early on a Saturday morning but they get over it,” said Emma.
The event was well put together and you could feel the passion and energy that filled the room. The International tours are also a missions trip for the ensemble, which made it that much more important for them to raise funds for the trip.
“It was nice to have that much support for our international tours--they are great mission opportunities for our ensemble,” said Tiffany.
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